Saturday 22 November 2025
Percy Park 27 Keswick 18
Regional 2 North
(HT: 10-10)
Percy Park played host to second place Keswick on Saturday last and in an enthralling, physical encounter triumphed 27-18, earning a deserved try bonus point in the process. Despite a senior men’s squad decimated by injury and unavailability, Park rose to the occasion, particularly in the second half, surviving two yellow card decisions with a pack that just refused to yield to the bigger Keswick eight. After showing real character to secure a draw at Aspatria two weeks ago, Park again showed grit and determination to defeat Keswick, only their third defeat of the season, and at the final whistle, it was clear exactly what the win meant to the team. With poor weather throughout the week, the pitch passed an inspection on Friday so our grateful thanks to the ground staff.
With an acute injury list, it was somewhat of a relief that there was only one change to the back division on Saturday, Andrew Walker who made such a significant impact at Aspatria replacing Freddie Harra at scrumhalf. In the forwards, Sam Digman and Dan Shuttleworth both made welcome returns to the front row to join Nick Macklin-Copeland and it was an all new back row, with Josh Cox, another standout performer at Aspatria, joined by Ethan Wilson and in a huge change from his normal position of centre, Paul Spowart coming in as blindside flanker. In the second row, Sean Nairn replaced the injured Karl Thompson. On the replacements bench Harra was joined by Tristan Grant and, after a lengthy injury absence, the welcome return of Josh Hedley.
On a very cold, overcast day Park kicked off and, winning the chase, were immediately on the offensive in and around the Keswick 22. After an excellent break by Spowart, seemingly relishing his unfamiliar role, brought play to within a couple of metres of the visitors try line. After numerous penalty advantages from referee Adam Morrison, an unstoppable Chris Reekie crashed over to the left of the posts on two minutes. Spowart missed the conversion (5-0).
Keswick responded immediately from the restart, winning a penalty on the Park 22 after a high tackle by No 8 Ethan Wison. Keswick outside half Kieran Mewse made no mistake with the kick, four minutes played (5-3). Thanks to intelligent kicking from Mewse, Keswick were playing in and around the Park 22 without really creating any threat and when they turned the ball over, Park showed their attacking intent attacking hard along the right touchline. When the ball was moved infield, a cross field kick into the left corner from outside half George Chapman had Keswick scrambling to touch the ball down before two chasing Park players could do so. Park were now beginning to exert real pressure, their forwards driving deep into the visiting 22 and, after a quarter of an hour, quick hands from a ruck had centre Fergus Simpson go over in the right corner. Chapman missed the difficult conversion (10-3).
Park continued to exert pressure but when the ball was turned over a long kick from Mewse into home territory had Park in defensive disarray and over enthusiasm had No 8 Ethan Wilson tackle an opponent off the ball, resulting in a yellow card from Mr Morrison as the second quarter began. The resulting kick was put deep into the Park 22, but excellent maul defence kept the visiting eight out. Keswick laid siege in the Park 22, only indiscipline halting their momentum. But just as it appeared that Park had weathered the storm and effected a breakout indiscipline at a ruck again allowed Keswick to kick into the left corner. This time the catch and drive could not be stopped with (I believe) Keswick hooker Ally Hewett-Smith claiming the score. Mewse converted to tie the score on thirty minutes (10-10).
A needless obstruction gave Mewse the opportunity to kick a penalty on thirty-five minutes but he missed the kick from wide out on the right touchline and there was no further scoring as the half came to an end.
HT: Percy Park 10 Keswick 10
Keswick kicked off the second half and were ahead for the first time in the match within two minutes when yet another ruck offence (kicking through) was penalised midway in the Park half. The difficult kick was converted by Mewse (10-13).
The lead did not last for long, Park scoring an excellent try just seven minutes later. When Keswick, under pressure, were penalised on their 10 metre line, quick thinking from scrumhalf Andrew Walker with a quick tap penalty had the visiting defence in a mess and a rampaging charge from No 8 Ethan Wilson had Park almost at the try line. Quick hands right had hooker Dan Shuttleworth score wide out on the right. An excellent conversion from Chapman followed (17-13).
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors, a yellow card brandished by Mr Morrison for a high tackle on fifty-five minutes. Park took full advantage, working their way to the try line almost under the posts. Another Keswick infringement, a quick tap and go, swift hands left had replacement Josh Hedley crash over for a try that was warmly applauded by both his team and their supporters. Chapman kicked an excellent conversion from wide on the left (24-13).
Both sides were reduced to fourteen men when, as the game entered the last quarter, second row Chris Reekie received a yellow card from the referee after what appeared to be a no arms tackle. Keswick began to turn the screw without creating any clear cut chance and when the ball was turned over, the ball was moved quickly right for skipper Howard Stock to make ground up to half way. A clever kick into the right corner from Walker put pressure back on the visitors but from the lineout, a strong carry from visiting second row Karl Smyth enabled the Cumbrians to attack along the right touchline. The next fifteen minutes saw both sides have periods of possession and territory but both were guilty of giving away needless penalties that halted any meaningful momentum.
A Keswick scrum just on the Park 22 saw the home forwards marched backwards almost to the try line and two swift passes right had right wing Ryan Weir score in the right corner on seventy-four minutes. Mewse missed the very difficult conversion from the right touchline (24-18). A six point game with only a few tense minutes remaining. Park applied pressure and when they won a scrum in the Keswick 22, the home forwards repayed the compliment, pushing the visitors backwards and earning a penalty almost in front of the posts which was converted by Chapman on seventy-eight minutes (27-18).
Keswick won possession from the restart and remained camped in the home 22 but they elected to tap three very kickable penalties and when Park won a scrum penalty and then the subsequent lineout, the ball was put into touch, the game signalled at an end by the referee.
FT: Percy Park 27 Keswick 18
An excellent game of rugby, very physical, feisty at times but never beyond the pale. Captain Howard Stock was delighted at the end of the game: “You could see how much it meant to us, we really wanted the win. Things have been tough of late with so many injuries but the last couple of games have shown that we don’t lack spirit or the ability to play rugby. Keswick are a great side but we did deserve it today. Second half we got on top of them up front except for their try but we were missing Tanky (Chris Reekie) when they scored. Great result, we have to back it up at Morpeth next week”.
For Park, the new back row played really well, particularly out of position Paul Spowart who at times seemed to be everywhere on the pitch. Josh Cox and Ethan Wilson also impressed. Josh Hedley was on the pitch rather sooner than he may have anticipated but he made his presence felt and scored a great try in the second half. The Keswick stand off Kieran Mewse had a great game for the visitors and right wing Ryan Weir was always dangerous. they may come to regret passing up the chance to kick for goal on three occasions late in the game which may (or may not) have brought them victory but would surely have earned them a losing bonus point. We thank them for a great game and wish them well for the rest of the season. Our thanks also to referee Adam Morrison who had a great game. Keswick arrived minus a touch judge and our past president Barry Smith obliged, even managing to keep up with play at his advanced age!
The Lions were due to travel to Ryton but, due to the adverse weather, the game was called off. The weather also put paid to the Colts home fixture against Hartlepool on Sunday. The Panthers had a rest weekend. The 1st XV travel to Morpeth this weekend for a league fixture, KO 2pm, with the Lions hosting Morpeth, KO 2pm. On Sunday, the Colts visit Blaydon, KO 1pm. Support for our teams would be most welcome.
Percy Park: 15 Tom Robinson; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Fergus Simpson; 11 Tom Bird; 10 George Chapman; 9 Andrew Walker; 8 Ethan Wilson; 7 Josh Cox; 6 Paul Spowart; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Sean Nairn; 3 Nick Macklin-Copeland; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Sam Digman
Replacements: Tristan Grant; Josh Hedley; Freddie Harra